Eggs contain numerous vitamins and nutrients, including protein, vitamin B12 and vitamin D. Cooking eggs with butter or other saturated fats, however, minimizes those health benefits. Cooking eggs with olive oil is considered a healthy alternative to butter.

Cayenne peppers are commonly grown in the home garden. The peppers are decorative on the plant and full of robust flavor when used to spice up a favorite culinary dish.

Lamb sirloin is the cut of meat located just in front of the lamb leg and is sometimes sold along with the leg. Often cut into steaks or chops, it can also be purchased as a boneless roast. A 3-ounce serving of roasted lamb sirloin is an excellent source of protein, vitamin B-12, niacin and zinc.

Quinoa is species of the Goosefoot plant, closely related to beets and spinach, grown and harvested for its edible seeds. Quinoa seeds have a slight bitter flavor with a grainy texture. If you prepare quinoa incorrectly, it may turn to mush or adopt a vaguely muddy flavor.

Smoking your meat on the grill will not only give it a delicious smokey flavor but will also keep the meat tender as this method slowly cooks the meat indirectly. Regardless of whether your ribs are beef or pork, when you cook ribs on the grill, you can run the risk of overcooking them.

Frying isn't the only way to cook pork chops on your stovetop. Pan-searing gives this juicy cut of pork a crusty, well-browned interior; you simply cover the pan to finish cooking the chops to perfection. It also makes for a quick and easy dinner option.

First popularized in the United States by President Thomas Jefferson, who would serve this luscious dish to dignified guests at the White House, macaroni and cheese has become an American staple. The basic ingredients found within the dish, pasta, cheese and milk, lend themselves to freezing well.

Boneless chicken breast provides a cost-effective, lower calorie, lower saturated fat alternative to red meats. You can safely cook frozen chicken on the stove or in the oven, but the meat may cook unevenly, and it also takes longer.

Tomatoes have a place in hundreds of culinary applications including spaghetti sauce, pizzas and as sandwich toppings. Tomatoes contain naturally occurring sugars, as do all fruits.

Though fresh, sweet cherries are typically eaten raw, cooking them softens them and mellows their flavor. Cooking sour cherries with sugar sweetens them. One of the most common uses for cooked cherries is as a cherry pie filling or a cherry topping for ice cream or cake.

Garlic is a common ingredient in many dishes, but chopping or mincing garlic every time you want to use it can be time-consuming. By mincing garlic ahead of time and freezing it, you will have the right amount ready whenever you need it.

Beans are packed with fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals with no saturated or trans fat. When dried, heart-healthy legumes are a convenience item for long-term storage in your pantry.